The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) harbors ambitions to "take over" the Democratic Party, potentially by supporting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for president in 2028, Andrew Epstein, a campaign strategist for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has stated.
Epstein articulated this strategy in an interview with the Belgian newspaper De Tijd, suggesting that the DSA aims to build on recent electoral successes. These include Mamdani's mayoral victory and the primary wins of Darializa Avila Chevalier and Claire Valdez, who are poised to join Ocasio-Cortez in Congress. "I think we want to take over the Democratic Party," Epstein was quoted as saying in the translated article.
He believes that running a DSA-aligned candidate for president is crucial to achieving this goal, identifying Ocasio-Cortez as the most viable option. "I cannot imagine any other politician who can mobilize the electorate needed to win the presidency," Epstein explained, drawing a parallel to how President Trump transformed the Republican Party. "You can only change a party by putting forward a president."
Epstein, who was the spokesperson for Mamdani's successful primary campaign against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, also played a role in Valdez's recent primary victory. Both Valdez and Avila Chevalier are expected to win their respective general elections in heavily Democratic districts.
The DSA is also backing candidates in other upcoming congressional races, including Chris Rabb in Pennsylvania, and Mai Yang and Angela Gonzales-Torres in California. The organization is simultaneously working to expand its presence in state governments nationwide, fueled by what many attribute to the growing influence of New York City's mayor. Local DSA chapters have also endorsed mayoral candidates in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.
Beyond the current midterm elections, the NYC-DSA chapter has publicly expressed support for a potential Ocasio-Cortez presidential bid in 2028. While Ocasio-Cortez has not officially declared any presidential aspirations, she has been actively campaigning for local Democrats across New York.
This prospect has reportedly caused concern among establishment Democrats and even some on the left. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, considered a potential contender for the 2028 presidential nomination, acknowledged the DSA's rising influence. "The DSA, the energy and the desire for bold change, not incremental change, is very much going to be the dominant… I mean that is going to be the mainstream Democratic movement. Absolutely. No question in my mind," Newsom stated.
Epstein suggested that younger voters, particularly millennials who experienced the repercussions of the 2008 financial crisis, are increasingly open to socialist ideas. He noted that the historical stigma associated with socialism has diminished, allowing terms like "communist" to be used more freely in political discourse as the anti-socialist sentiment fades further from the Cold War era. "The association with socialism is no longer a problem, so they now use the word ‘communist’," he claimed.
However, a recent New York Times/Siena poll indicated that 51% of American voters hold an unfavorable view of socialism. Epstein clarified that his remarks represented his personal views and not necessarily the official stance of the DSA.